Lhamo Tso, wife of Political Prisoner to launch Cross-Canada Advocacy tour for her husband

(Toronto, ON) – (Toronto, ON) – Lhamo Tso, a Tibetan refugee and the wife of imprisoned Tibetan filmmaker Dhondup Wangchen will launch her first Canada-wide tour this Monday, April 30th to advocate for her husband’s release from Chinese prison.

The mother of four has been touring the world to raise the profile of her husband who is currently serving a six-year prison sentence for filming Tibetans in Tibet speaking openly about Chinese rule in advance of the Beijing Olympics. His case has previously been raised in the Canadian Parliament and by government leaders around the world.

In Toronto, Lhamo Tso will hold two speaking events: at the Parkdale Library at 5:30 pm, on 1303 Queen Street West and at the Amnesty Toronto office at 7 pm, on 1992 Yonge Street.

“If human rights were respected in Tibet, my husband would never have been arrested for simply making a film,” said Lhamo Tso on one of her tours. “People living in free countries have the right to free expression, but this does not exist inside Tibet. Despite my husband’s deteriorating health, he is being forced to work long hours in a prison labor camp.”

Lhamo Tso will be appealing for Canadians to join her call for Dhondup Wangchen’s immediate release as a prisoner of conscience. He filmed Tibetans speaking openly about the Dalai Lama and Chinese policies in Tibet in the lead up to the Beijing 2008 Olympics. He was arrested in March 2008 and charged with “inciting subversion”, and imprisoned in a closed door trial. His chosen lawyer was denied access to the court by the Chinese authorities. His imprisonment is a direct violation of international legal standards.